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Bird Id ?

  • 10-03-2014 3:03pm
    #1
    finix
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 325 ✭✭


    Blessington Basin in Phibsboro

    1zegznq.jpg


Comments

  • #2
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,072 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    A Smew I think - I think most of the birds there are releases from captive collections.


  • #3
    finix
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 325 ✭✭finix


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »
    A Smew I think - I think most of the birds there are releases from captive collections.
    yeah ! Looked up Smew and it fits ! I don't think they were captive as there was 2 and very jumpy and nervous. There is also another Heron Type bird there yesterday and I did not have my phone but will look it up and post if I find it on google images. Thank You.


  • #4
    OpenYourEyes
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,072 Mod ✭✭✭✭OpenYourEyes


    finix wrote: »
    yeah ! Looked up Smew and it fits ! I don't think they were captive as there was 2 and very jumpy and nervous. There is also another Heron Type bird there yesterday and I did not have my phone but will look it up and post if I find it on google images. Thank You.

    I've never been there, but people have posted pics here before - I intend to go at some point in the future though, lovely birds to photograph!

    I think there's a Red Crested Pochard or something along those lines there too - and maybe a Wood Duck, and possibly more. And they're all resident, don't just turn up and disappear after a few days/weeks. Birds like those would be hugely unlikely to turn up in a pond in Ireland though. Take a look at Birdwatch Ireland's info about Smew here - a rare winter visitor to a select number of areas.

    And if that heron type bird is grey-ish in colour, it's a Grey Heron - if it's white it's a Little Egret. Always great to have little patches of wildlife in the city :)


  • #5
    finix
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 325 ✭✭finix


    OpenYourEyes wrote: »
    I've never been there, but people have posted pics here before - I intend to go at some point in the future though, lovely birds to photograph!

    I think there's a Red Crested Pochard or something along those lines there too - and maybe a Wood Duck, and possibly more. And they're all resident, don't just turn up and disappear after a few days/weeks. Birds like those would be hugely unlikely to turn up in a pond in Ireland though. Take a look at Birdwatch Ireland's info about Smew here - a rare winter visitor to a select number of areas.

    And if that heron type bird is grey-ish in colour, it's a Grey Heron - if it's white it's a Little Egret. Always great to have little patches of wildlife in the city :)
    No It's 100% this and he is lurking on the island in the middle of the lake !
    28wcodf.jpg

    Its a Chinese pond heron and several have been reported in the UK as recently as last week. I have looked at every heron on the web and this is deffo the guy ! Rare Indeed !


  • #6
    V_Moth
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,423 ✭✭✭V_Moth


    The Smew in Blessington Basin is definitely an escape - it is in completely the wrong habitat for a wild Smew not to mention it is missing half its wing. Also present on the lake/pond are White-cheeked Pintail and Hooded Merganser.

    Just a small correction - there is only one Chinese Pond Heron present in Britain at the moment (in Kent). The precise origins of this bird and even what species of Pond Heron it is are still being discussed. The three species of Pond Heron (Chinese, Indian and Javan) are virtually impossible to tell apart in non-breeding plumage. Probably the best thing would be to go back and get a picture of the heron to confirm the identification. :)


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  • #7
    finix
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 325 ✭✭finix


    V_Moth wrote: »
    The Smew in Blessington Basin is definitely an escape - it is in completely the wrong habitat for a wild Smew not to mention it is missing half its wing. Also present on the lake/pond are White-cheeked Pintail and Hooded Merganser.

    Just a small correction - there is only one Chinese Pond Heron present in Britain at the moment (in Kent). The precise origins of this bird and even what species of Pond Heron it is are still being discussed. The three species of Pond Heron (Chinese, Indian and Javan) are virtually impossible to tell apart in non-breeding plumage. Probably the best thing would be to go back and get a picture of the heron to confirm the identification. :)
    I will go tomorrow at lunchtime. I don't doubt you for one minute BTW. Thanks ! There are a few Mandarin Ducks there too !


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